NEVER-SAY-DIE Bashley boss Barry Blankley believes his team have the character to play a key role in the Eastern Division promotion shakedown.

After dropping 14 of the last 15 points, the Foresters' chances of bringing Premier Division football to the Recreation Ground next season look wafer-thin.

But the determination Bash showed in battling back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Banbury on Saturday has convinced Blankley that his players are up for the fight.

"Have we resigned ourselves to being out of it? Far from it," he said. "A lot of teams would have thrown the hat in after conceding twice in the first 15 minutes at Banbury, but fair play to our lads for digging deep and showing the character to fight back.

"It was disappointing not to come away with the three points, but I can't fault the lads for the way they played.

"Everyone, including the supporters, knows how well we did. Everything was spot on apart from the result."

King's Lynn's 4-0 win at rock-bottom St Leonard's on Monday has dropped Bash to sixth, but Blankley feels the picture could change dramatically if Bash make the most of their home games against Ashford tonight (7.45) and Sittingbourne on Saturday.

After that come a tricky sequence of Easter 'six-pointers' against leaders Eastbourne Borough (home, April 19), Salisbury (away, April 21) and Stamford (home, April 26) before the season concludes at Rothwell on May 3.

"If we don't get promotion, we're going to have a big say in who does," said Blankley. "We know we've got one of the hardest run-ins, so getting six points out of six against Ashford and Sittingbourne is an absolute must."

Graeme Gee sits out the second of a two-match suspension tonight, while Dave Wakefield is battling a slight groin strain. Navy defender Dave Wilson is still away at sea but should be available to face Sittingbourne.